[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6132587,"mediaKeyId","5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a","parentId",5719983,"title","Topeka council votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate to preserve budget flexibility as 2026 hearings continue","audioSeconds",1298,"startMs",2862000,"endMs",4160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a&start=2862&end=4160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a/thumbnail_2862000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6132587/Topeka-City/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Topeka-council-votes-to-exceed-revenue-neutral-rate-to-preserve-budget-flexibility-as-2026-hearings-continue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132587-e17c97b3e602108206b28459c2c3769c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775256117&Signature=XIVW3aRUNMirojzdsnMGS8LJa2THlozk74C9m5UmH82VVoXsCKNlHM0XCeTTd7YUlm8MWCRsY-4CP9WS3EtqTNJod22bBK-mt44JJ-xejNXqS1ojcFJ5HUoVgVcfypzaWAxz-EtCHz9LGmZOrsK8t4OAgeHNaWUHT~UXPS2J7Mn~Rzf05MXTWBzAY9ClwlRgceNwwuPJCXasd93i62ANYl1r7FhV4BhbPoZza2V-he9E5QYEI1EdTShXWTk1WLQgsuofnUn0E~~Yo40y~xJaNpfX0OSdguJWRYwUdUmGDbxiYmclyCqqcoj~9Ue0KF4RlsZvasyurvxT5jOhTiz4ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Topeka, KS","date","2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Topeka City Council on Aug. 26 voted to approve a resolution allowing the city to levy a property tax rate for 2026 that exceeds the revenue-neutral rate of 35.183, giving staff and council additional budget flexibility as they complete deliberations ahead of final adoption in September.

Deputy Mayor Kell moved to approve the resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral rate; Councilman Kenneth Miller seconded. The motion passed in a roll call vote recorded in the transcript as seven yes, with Councilman David Banks and Councilman Chris Duncan voting no. The council clerk announced, \"We have 7 yes with council members Banks and Duncan voting no. The motion carries.\"

City staff and department heads used the Aug. 26 session to brief the governing body on portions of the proposed 2026 operating budget. Josh MacInarney, budget and finance division director, gave an overview of mill-levy mechanics, noting the city’s current mill rate is 36.956 and the revenue-neutral rate is 35.183; he said one mill is approximately $1,500,000 in the 2026 budget and that capturing the increment over revenue neutral would yield about $2.7 million in additional property tax revenue for the city.

The meeting included multiple department presentations and staff remarks:
- City Manager's Office (14 FTEs) — staff noted frozen positions (emergency management coordinator and CFO) and one eliminated communications position; an annual lobbyist contract was mentioned as an upcoming procurement.
- Legal Department — Amanda, City Attorney, described the department’s in-house work (contracts, prosecutions, litigation) and noted there were no requested staffing increases for 2026; she highlighted recent work on economic development deals and a grant to support domestic-violence prosecution.
- Human Resources — HR staff discussed implementation of the Tyler ERP modules, recruiting successes (engineer hires), and workforce training programs.
- Office of Inclusive Communities — Director Monique Glade reviewed community outreach accomplishments (national night out, a community resource fair, and distribution of 499 backpacks) and goals for 2026, including a youth leadership summit and expanded partnerships.
- Information Technology — IT staff summarized security-audit driven staffing requests, completion of a new website and utility-billing upgrade, and ongoing ERP data migration and asset-management planning.

Members of the public repeatedly urged the council not to raise property taxes. Speakers said rising property taxes were causing hardship for fixed-income residents and proposed alternatives, including redirecting economic development funding. Resident Lynelle Griffith argued that Topeka could reallocate part of Go Topeka’s budget (Go Topeka reported $11 million in 2024 sales-tax revenue) toward tax relief and economic development focused on attracting new residents rather than increasing taxes.

Council debate reflected those concerns. Councilman Banks said he could not support exceeding the revenue-neutral rate because constituents are being taxed out of their homes. Deputy Mayor Kell and Councilwoman Hofer said their support for allowing the city to exceed the revenue-neutral rate was intended to preserve \"wiggle room\" as staff continue detailed budget review, not to precommit to a higher levy; Hofer said the council could lower the rate later if cuts are possible. Councilman Duncan urged longer-term state-level fixes to the property-tax system and noted the council’s prior adoption of a property-tax rebate for low-income seniors and certain disabled veterans.

The council was reminded the budget adoption schedule includes further meetings: an upcoming public budget hearing (Sept. 9) and final adoption targeted for Sept. 16. City staff indicated additional opportunities remain for council amendment and public comment before final adoption.

The vote to allow the city to exceed the revenue-neutral rate is procedural for budget flexibility; the final mill levy and budget appropriation will be set at adoption in mid-September.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle"," Topeka City Council Meeting August 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After extended public comment opposing property tax increases, the Topeka City Council voted 7-2 on Aug. 26 to approve a resolution allowing the city to levy a 2026 property tax rate that exceeds the revenue-neutral rate, keeping options open as department budgets are finalized.","taxTitle","Topeka City, Shawnee County, Kansas","taxId",4988,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132594,"Hearing on Topeka Metro levy fails to advance; transcript records inconsistent vote tally",2317,529000,2846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a&start=529&end=2846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a/thumbnail_529000.jpg","/articles/6132594/Topeka-City/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Hearing-on-Topeka-Metro-levy-fails-to-advance-transcript-records-inconsistent-vote-tally","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132594-f769818e15f69f2af40d5bbc413a7084/orig.mp4?Expires=1775256117&Signature=nvrOgralBYyFW9Tke4KuoLKLuQ-u~sKPOj3F~NEXHPFCsLYOv9W9xRPKH7gG80Yblp2puKK7w4s702na2XHzum3d4vk8eVsErEapsunIOruJSO4F7y2pzblJH-CTiyC9Vw6-eWu78xmWJA3TwOBYxoXkLsRtkTjRXGJnKQd5pqs6qGPPJyiQeGNODzvNDUJPbeMyWM7HgpSLOj0hSXC92nE9nQ9IuXvSEtu5YQrKXsTcfpuyDOoWvh2s2bJO95DQ-QMdZ377D8LlI8Xtxhql9iQQief28OWyz-JKH0Jb4~5fOL6Rb2F6OhzjJ5Qa4EbL0lSao7M35gZS2bs1ccq8pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Topeka City Council opened a public hearing Aug. 26 to consider whether the Topeka Metro Transit Authority should be allowed to adopt a property tax rate that exceeds its revenue-neutral rate of 3.999 mils and instead levy 4.20 mils.

Josh MacInarney, the city’s budget and finance division director, briefed the governing body on the levy process and figures, saying the difference between the TMTA’s current 4.20 rate and its revenue-neutral rate of 3.999 amounts to approximately $300,000. He explained the hearing is the first step and that the final mill levy will be set when budgets are adopted in September.

Several members of the public spoke against raising property taxes on behalf of Metro and the city. Earl McIntosh (recorded in the transcript as a speaker opposing increases) said homeowners were “at the end of their rope” and urged a one-year moratorium on tax increases; James King said he could not afford more taxes on a fixed income.

After public comment, a motion to allow TMTA to exceed the revenue-neutral rate was made and taken by voice vote. The meeting transcript states, \"The motion failed. We have 5 yes,\" followed shortly by a line that lists four council members as voting no; the transcript’s recording of individual votes on that voice vote is inconsistent. The council closed the TMTA public hearing without advancing the requested rate.

Why it matters: the incremental mill increase for Metro was put by staff at roughly $300,000. Allowing the authority to keep a higher mill levy would increase property tax bills paid to the Metro authority by property owners in the taxing area; denying it keeps revenue at the revenue-neutral level.

Bob Nugent, general manager of the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority, was present at the meeting to answer questions but did not make a budget presentation during the hearing. Josh MacInarney reiterated the procedural point that the hearing does not adopt the final mill levy for Metro; the final decision on final levies occurs during the city and Metro budget adoption process.

The transcript does not provide a consistent roll-call record for the TMTA motion; the council clerk closed the hearing after the voice vote and recorded that the public hearing was closed.

For further details and the final levy outcomes, council members and residents were directed to the upcoming budget hearings and the formal budget-adoption votes scheduled on the council calendar.","The council held a public hearing on whether Topeka Metro Transit Authority should exceed its revenue-neutral rate (3.999 mils) and impose a 4.2-mil rate. A motion to approve the higher TMTA rate failed, but the transcript records an inconsistent tally; staff said exceeding the rate would yield roughly $300,000 for Metro.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6132598,"Topeka council approves renovation and addition at Westwater Treatment Plant Building B",205,299000,504000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a&start=299&end=504","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5719983-ceeef31bb690296f116578ad4640252a/thumbnail_299000.jpg","/articles/6132598/Topeka-City/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Topeka-council-approves-renovation-and-addition-at-Westwater-Treatment-Plant-Building-B","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6132598-7cac55e099b2b6bb7d8b7c6c0d554847/orig.mp4?Expires=1775256117&Signature=aiqevaCYZIicFJmTup9h3hFCneZNu3Kn5aTuFICeQ6hPa3WUSta3qNu6ZeFkbqoBGS3ASHkBUPu9d5KBDafWsmxx6~3VXTJMmUrnsqGuLCyLa1AaoVSPKE13txQyEeS6csZyLwYQsaAOJXaOrSg0gqYWOlWttaR5pRbYIqRvzUVHSynMWenqWGvHOpvPITsqhsFgBybz0aWmFD-LG~0KKhlD3bRK3y5aM0lHOpyD5TvjDEbicqwcWF8OvUxN051Y5HzoVOfp3wgWjV-ZsvGlWRxL3d-EOWjZ~HNOIGgi7UAtnhVF5bM9yJFyD5yv2iS7etoaxp2jj4yw4nFrQQU0Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Topeka City Council on Aug. 26 approved a resolution to fund renovation and an addition to Building B at the wastewater treatment plant, a project described as replacing use of an aging facility built in 1929.

The work, which the council approved after a presentation from city utilities staff, is cash-funded through the utilities/facilities program budget and was included previously in the city’s capital improvements plan. City officials said the project will provide offices, shop space, break rooms and locker rooms suited to current operations at the plant.

\"We are seeking approval tonight for a project to do a renovation and addition at Building B at the wastewater treatment plant,\" Sylvia Davis, Director of Utilities, told the council, adding the project would let staff stop using Building U, which \"was constructed in 1929\" and no longer meets the plant’s needs. \"This would provide offices as well as shop space, break rooms, and locker rooms for the staff to use that facility to maintain our wastewater infrastructure,\" Davis said.

Council members on the public infrastructure committee recommended the measure. Councilman David Banks praised the committee’s work and said Director Davis had brought “a very viable” project to the governing body. Councilwoman Hofer, who said she attended the infrastructure meeting on the item, described Building U’s condition: “The bathroom is so bad, they won't use that bathroom. … The building doesn't have very good temperature control. It's cold when it's cold, and it's hot when it's really hot.”

Councilwoman Sylvia Ortiz moved to approve the resolution; Councilwoman Hofer seconded. The clerk recorded eight yes votes and the motion carried.

The renovation will cease use of Building U and consolidate staff spaces into Building B; budget and funding were described as cash-funded out of the utilities/facilities program and previously planned in the CIP. City staff present for the briefing included Jason Tryon, deputy director of public works, who was available to answer questions during the discussion.

The council did not provide a construction timetable in the discussion on Aug. 26; staff said questions could be directed to the utilities or facilities divisions for details on schedule and procurement.","The Topeka City Council approved a resolution to renovate and add to Building B at the Westwater (wastewater) Treatment Plant, replacing use of an outdated 1929 building and providing updated office, shop and locker-room space for plant staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Topeka council votes to exceed revenue-neutral rate to preserve budget flexibility as 2026 hearings continue

Hearing on Topeka Metro levy fails to advance; transcript records inconsistent vote tally

Topeka council approves renovation and addition at Westwater Treatment Plant Building B